Ozempic vs Saxenda
Last reviewed against the current FDA prescribing information for both products. Not medical advice.
Short answer
Ozempic and Saxenda are different medicines with different schedules: Ozempic (semaglutide) is injected once a week, while Saxenda (liraglutide) is injected once a day. Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists made by Novo Nordisk.
They are approved for different conditions. Ozempic is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes, including to lower cardiovascular and kidney risk. Saxenda is approved for long-term weight management in adults and in children 12 and older with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg. Its label says adults should stop if they haven’t lost at least 4% of their starting weight after 16 weeks.
For weight management, semaglutide is sold as Wegovy rather than Ozempic. Talk to your prescriber about which medicine and schedule fit your goals and health history.
Key differences
- Schedule: once weekly (Ozempic) vs once daily (Saxenda).
- Active ingredient: semaglutide (Ozempic) vs liraglutide (Saxenda).
- Approved use: type 2 diabetes (Ozempic) vs weight management (Saxenda).
- Dose steps: 0.25 mg → up to 2 mg weekly (Ozempic) vs 0.6 mg → 3 mg daily over 5 weeks (Saxenda).
- Needles: included with Ozempic pens; not included with the Saxenda pen.
Ozempic and Saxenda side by side
| From the FDA label | Ozempic | Saxenda |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | liraglutide |
| Drug class | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| FDA-approved uses |
|
|
| Approved for weight management? | No | Yes |
| How it's taken | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous) | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous) |
| How often | Once weekly | Once daily |
| Starting dose | 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks | 0.6 mg once daily for 1 week |
| Dose increases | Then 0.5 mg once weekly. If more blood sugar control is needed, the dose can go up to 1 mg, then 2 mg, each after at least 4 weeks on the current dose | Increase each week: 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, then 3 mg from week 5 |
| Maintenance dose | 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg once weekly (1 mg for the chronic kidney disease indication) | 3 mg once daily for adults (children who do not tolerate 3 mg may use 2.4 mg) |
| Maximum dose | 2 mg once weekly | 3 mg once daily |
| When to take it | Same day each week, any time of day, with or without meals. The injection day can be changed if the last dose was at least 2 days (48 hours) earlier | Once a day at any time, regardless of meals |
| Pens and devices | Multi-dose pens (0.25/0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg dose pens) with NovoFine Plus needles included, and single-dose prefilled syringes (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg) | Multi-dose 3 mL pen that dials 0.6 mg to 3 mg doses. Pen needles are not included |
| Storage | Before first use: refrigerate. After first use, a pen can be kept at room temperature (59–86°F) or in the fridge for 56 days. Do not freeze | Before first use: refrigerate. After first use, the pen can be kept at room temperature (59–86°F) or in the fridge for 30 days. Do not freeze |
| Weight results in the label | None: not a weight-management product | In the label’s 56-week trial in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition (Study 1), average weight change was −7.4% with Saxenda vs −3.0% with placebo, on top of diet and exercise. (Saxenda label, section 14.1, Table 4) |
| Most common side effects (≥5%) | Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain, Constipation | Nausea, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Injection site reactions, Headache, Low blood sugar, Indigestion (dyspepsia), Fatigue, Dizziness, Abdominal pain, Increased lipase, Upper abdominal pain, Fever, Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) |
| Boxed warning | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Do not use if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Do not use if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). |
| First FDA approval | December 5, 2017 | December 23, 2014 |
Side effects listed are the label's “most common adverse reactions”; the full label also covers serious risks such as pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and low blood sugar. Weight results come from separate placebo-controlled trials and are not a head-to-head comparison unless stated.
Good to know
- Ozempic injection is not FDA-approved for weight management. The weight-management semaglutide product is Wegovy.
- Semaglutide is also sold as a once-daily tablet under the Ozempic and Rybelsus names, which has its own label. This page covers the weekly injection.
- The label says adults should stop Saxenda if they have not lost at least 4% of their starting weight after 16 weeks.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Which of these is approved for my diagnosis, and is it covered by my plan?
- How should I step up the dose, and what should I do if the side effects are hard to tolerate?
- Do any of my other medicines, or my personal or family history, rule one of these out?
- If I switch from one to the other, what dose should I start on and when?
Sources
- Ozempic (semaglutide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed (label effective June 1, 2026, version 20) (Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 16, boxed warning, Instructions for Use; checked September 24, 2026)
- Drugs@FDA: NDA 209637 (Ozempic injection) (Original approval date; checked September 24, 2026)
- Rybelsus / Ozempic (oral semaglutide) tablets — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed (Existence of the Ozempic tablet; checked September 24, 2026)
- Saxenda (liraglutide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed (label effective February 25, 2026, version 22) (Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 14.1, 16, boxed warning, Instructions for Use; checked September 24, 2026)
- Drugs@FDA: NDA 206321 (Saxenda) (Original approval date; checked September 24, 2026)
How we review: every fact on this page is taken from the current FDA prescribing information on DailyMed or from Drugs@FDA, and re-checked on the date shown. This page was reviewed against FDA labeling, not by a named clinician.
Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it doesn't cover every use, dose, warning or side effect. Always follow the advice of your doctor, pharmacist or other prescriber and read the Medication Guide that comes with your medicine. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call your local emergency number. ShotWise is a tracking app and does not prescribe, sell or recommend any medication.
